Convertible trunk, chest, box, &amp;c.



. No. 825,642. PATENTED JULY '10, 1906.

E. H. ENRIGHT. CONVERTIBLE TRUNK, CHEST, BOX, zo. PPPPPP ATIoN FILED JUNB1,1905.

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No. 825,642. PATENTED JULY 10,. 1906. F. H. ENRIGHT. CONVERTIBLE TRUNK, CHEST, BOX, w.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1,1905.

ri'Nrrnn STATES FRANK H. ENRIGHT, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVERTIBLE TRUNK, CHEST, BOX, &0.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10, 1906.

Amlimtion filed June 1,1905. Serial No. 263,281.

To all whom, it 71mg/ concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK H. ENRIGHT, a citizen of the United States, residing in the citvi` and count)T of Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Convertible Trunk, Chest, Box, Sac., of which the following is a specication.

My invention consists of a trunk, chest, box, &c., which may be converted into a wardrobe or closet, as will be hereinafter set forth and the novel features pointed out in the claims.

Figure l represents a perspective view of a convertible trunk, chest, box, &c., and wardrobe in folded condition embodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a section thereof on line a; Fig. l. Fig. 3 represents a perspective view of the device in extended and partij-open condition. Fig. 4 represents a front view of the device converted into a wardrobe. Fig. 5 represents a longitudinal section of a portion on an enlarged scale. Figs. 6 and 7 represent longitudinal sections of other portions on an enlarged scale. Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of a portion shown in Fig. 7.

Similar letters of reference indicate correspondingy parts in the figures.

Referring-to the drawings, A designates the body of a trunk, chest, or box, which is constructed of an inner section B and an outer section C, fitted to each other telescopically, whereby they may be folded one within the other, as in Figs. l and 2, o'r extended, as in Figs. 3 and 4.

The section B is provided with the lid D, and the section C is provided with the lid E, it being noticed that when the sections are in closed position, as in Figs. l and 2, the lid E is adapted to fold entirely over the lid D and cover the latter and that when the sections are distended, as in Figs. 3 and 4, the lid E may close over the inner end of said lid D, and thus control the same.

In order to lock the sections, I employ the bolts F, which are fitted in threaded sleeves G in the bottom and sides of the section B and are adapted to engage with threaded sleeves H in the bottom and sides of the section C, it being noticed that there is a sleeve H at each end of the section C, so as to lock the sections in the closed and extended positions thereof.

In order to stiffen the sides of the sections, there are respectively connected with the Same the cleats J K, the same being channeled, forming tongues and grooves, the tongue of one cleat freely entering the groove of the other cleat, so that said cleats may slide one on the other while-being interlocked, and thus preventing spreading of the sides of the sections, while also connecting the same and increasing their strength and preserving the alinement of the bolts F and M and their respective engaging parts.

In order to further interlock. the sides of the sections, there are formed in the end portions of the cleats J the openings L, and adj acent to the same there are bolts M, which are fitted in the sides of the section C and under pressure of suitably-applied springs P, it being evident that when the bolts enter the openings L inl either the closed 01 extended position of the sections said sections are locked. Vhen the bolts are withdrawn and the sections are moved, the ends of the bolts ride on the adjacent limbs of the cleats J, as shown in Fig. 7, until the movement of the sections is completed, when the bolts spring into the openings L, thus locking the sections,` as before state The locking action of the bolts M, Whose heads are on the exterior of the sections C, is for temporary purposes, especially when converting the body from a trunk to a wardrobe and holding the sections separated until the bolts F are reached and operated. Then when the sections are to be closed while said bolts M remain in locked ,osition the bolts F are first withdrawn 'rom the inside. Then said bolts M are withdrawn from the outside, When the sections may be gradually closed to restore the trunk as such, after which the sectionsare locked by said bolts F. This prevents abrupt motion of the movable Section, as will be apparent on reference to Fig. 4.

Q designates plates which are connected, respectively, with the under side of the bottom of the section B and upper side of the section C, said plates being adapted to rub tions, and thus relieve the bottoms of the sections of frictional contact.

In order to brace the corners of the sections at the open end of the section C and closed end of the section B, I employ the angular brackets R, which are secured to the closed end of the section B and project therefrom, so as to receive the adjacent walls of the open end of the section C and have their l limbs directly overlap the sides of said Walls IOO on. each other in the movements of the sec- IOS IIO

and embrace the corners of said section C, the strengthening effect of Which is evident, as shown in Fig. l.

It 'Will be seen that the section B may be folded into the section C and the sections locked, forming comparatively a single body. The lids may be closed and the upper or outer lid locked, the interior locking devices then being inaccessible.

In order to convert the body into a Wardrobe, as in Fig. 4, the lids are opened and the bolts F unscreWed, the body being placed in upright position. The bolts M are also Withdrawn when the section C is raised, the bolts M then springing into the openings L, thus sustaining said section C in its elevated position. The bolts F may noW be screwed into the lower sleeves H, thus interlocking the sections from Within. The lids E D now constitute the doors of a Wardrobe, in which When closed the lid E overlaps the end portion of the lid D, so that When said lid E is looked the lid D is locked by the same, the effect of which is evident.

When it is desired to restore the sections to the condition shown in Fig. 1, the bolts F are Withdrawn, the lids closed, and the bolts M also Withdrawn, When the sections telescope, an air-cushion then existing between the sections, causing a gentle stopping of section C, after which the bolts M engage with the respective openi'ngli` and the bolts F are rengaged 'with the 'sleeves H, thus connecting the sections, the b'ody thus being comparatively integral.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A trunk or like receptacle formed of sections telescopically fitted to each other, sleeves in said sections, a bolt adapted to be passed through said sleeves, and rub-plates connected With the opposite sections and covering said sleeves.

2. AA trunk or like receptacle formed of sections telescopically fitted to each other, registerin screw-threaded sleeves respectively on sai sections and a screw-threaded bolt in one sleeve adapted to enter the opposite screw-threaded sleeve at either end of the respective section.l

3. A trunk or like receptacle lformed of sections telescopically itted to each other, registerin sleeves respectively on the adjacent faces o 'said sections at opposite ends thereof, a positively-locking bolt in one sleeve adapted to enter the other sleeve, and an auxiliary bolt on one sectionadapted to enter an opening in the other section and having its handled end on the exterior'of the respective section, the last-named bolt serving to temporarily lock the sections extended.

4L. A trunk or like receptacle formed of sec* tions telescopically iitted to each other, anY

angular bracket secured to the end of one sec tion adapted to directly overlap the side of the other section and embrace the corner of the latter as the sections are closed, interengaging guiding and bracing cleats respectively on the adjacent sides of the sections and a locking device on one of said cleats adapted kto enter the other cleat at intervals.

5. A trunk or like receptacle formed of sections telescopically tted to each other, longitudinally-extending tongued and grooved cleats respectively on said sections each extending the length thereof, the tongue of one cleat freely entering the groove of the other cleat, one of said cleats having spaced openings therein and a bolt in the opposite cleat said bolt having its handled end outside of the trunk and being adapted to enter either of said openings in the open or closed condition of the receptacle.

FRANK H. ENRIGHT. Witnesses:

JOHN A. WIEDERSHEIM, S. R. CARR. 

